Making the Ordinary Extraordinary: Magical Realism in Latin American Literature

Observe and analyze paintings within the magical realism style.

Beach of Dangast with Flying Boat
American Gothic
Late Visitors to Pompeii
Self-Portrait...
The Subway

Standards

RL.9-10.7SL.9-10.1SL.9-10.6

Analyze how the villagers' response to the drowned man reveals the symbolism of his character.

Collected Stories pp. 247–254 — "The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World"

Standards

RL.9-10.3RL.9-10.4

Analyze how García Márquez uses characterization to convey a theme.

Collected Stories pp. 217–225 — "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings"

Standards

RL.9-10.2RL.9-10.3

Analyze how characters and events develop Allende's theme about words.

“Two Words”

Standards

RL.9-10.2RL.9-10.3

Analyze how Cortázer uses diction and narrative perspective to establish an eerie mood.

“House Taken Over”

Standards

RL.9-10.4RL.9-10.5RL.9-10.6

Writing

Rewrite a scene from "House Taken Over" from the first-person narrative point of view of Irene, using diction and tone to convey characterization and mood.

"House Taken Over" Graphic Organizer (G10, U4, L6)

Standards

RL.9-10.3RL.9-10.4RL.9-10.6W.9-10.3

Analyze how Borges uses the symbolism of the Book of Sand to convey a theme about the pursuit and limits of knowledge.

“The Book of Sand”

Standards

RL.9-10.2RL.9-10.3RL.9-10.4

Analyze how Paz uses diction and imagery in the story to convey the emotional journey between the narrator and the wave.

“My Life with the Wave”

Standards

RL.9-10.2RL.9-10.3RL.9-10.4

Analyze genre, narrative point of view, and structure in "The Rememberer."

“The Rememberer”

Standards

RL.9-10.2RL.9-10.5RL.9-10.6

Analyze how the narrative point of view and characterization reveal the central conflict within the story.

“St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves” pp. 225–235

Standards

RL.9-10.3RL.9-10.4RL.9-10.6

Analyze how the girls' experience at St. Lucy's serves as an allegory for assimilation.

“St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves” pp. 235–246

Standards

RL.9-10.2RL.9-10.3RL.9-10.4RL.9-10.5

Writing

Brainstorm ideas for the beginning of a magical realism short story, planning out a story opening using a graphic organizer.

Narrative Writing Short Story Prompt and Rubric (G10, U4)
Narrative Writing Short Story Graphic Organizer (G10, U4, L12)
Narrative Writing Short Story Mentor Text (G10, U4)

Standards

RL.9-10.5W.9-10.3W.9-10.5

Writing

Write the opening 1–2 pages of a magical realism short story by crafting an engaging opening, using transitions between scenes, and including vivid imagery and sensory details.

Narrative Writing Short Story Prompt and Rubric (G10, U4)
Narrative Writing Short Story Mentor Text (G10, U4)

Standards

W.9-10.3W.9-10.3.aW.9-10.3.cW.9-10.3.d

Analyze narrative point of view, characterization, and foreshadowing in Chapter 1.

Chronicle of a Death Foretold pp. 1–24 — Chapter 1

Standards

RL.9-10.3RL.9-10.5

Determine Gladwell's central ideas about memory in an episode from his podcast, Revisionist History.

“Revisionist History: Free Brian Williams”

Standards

RI.9-10.2SL.9-10.3

Analyze what the characterization of Bayardo, Angela, and the circumstances of their marriage reveal about honor in this society.

Chronicle of a Death Foretold pp. 25–47 — Chapter 2

Standards

RL.9-10.2RL.9-10.3RL.9-10.6

Analyze how the decisions and actions of the Vicario twins and the community in Chapter 3 develop the theme of honor.

Chronicle of a Death Foretold pp. 48–71 — Chapter 3

Standards

RL.9-10.2RL.9-10.3

Analyze how García Márquez uses tone, magical realism, and characterization to explore the role of the community in Santiago's death.

Chronicle of a Death Foretold pp. 72–95 — Chapter 4

Standards

RL.9-10.3RL.9-10.4RL.9-10.5

Analyze how the events in the final chapter develop the themes about the community's responsibility, fate, and truth.

Chronicle of a Death Foretold pp. 96–120 — Chapter 5

Standards

RL.9-10.2RL.9-10.3RL.9-10.6

Socratic Seminar

Engage in a Socratic Seminar considering the larger themes of guilt and blame in Chronicle of a Death Foretold, supporting arguments with strong textual evidence.

Chronicle of a Death Foretold

Standards

SL.9-10.1SL.9-10.1.aSL.9-10.1.bSL.9-10.1.cSL.9-10.1.d

Performance Task

Develop a thesis statement and plan evidence-based reasons to support it, using a graphic organizer to structure an argument.

Argumentative Essay Outline (G10, U4)
Argumentative Essay Mentor Text (G10, U4)

Standards

W.9-10.1.aW.9-10.1.bW.9-10.4W.9-10.5

Performance Task

Draft the body paragraphs of an argumentative essay using transitional words and phrases to clearly show the relationship between ideas and for emphasis.

Argumentative Essay Outline (G10, U4)
Argumentative Essay Mentor Text (G10, U4)
Transitional Words and Phrases (G9–12)

Standards

W.9-10.1.cW.9-10.1.dW.9-10.4W.9-10.5

Performance Task

Outline and draft a counterclaim paragraph that fairly presents the opposing viewpoint using textual evidence and then rebuts it with evidence and analysis.

Argumentative Essay Outline (G10, U4)
Argumentative Essay Mentor Text (G10, U4)

Standards

W.9-10.1.aW.9-10.1.bW.9-10.1.cW.9-10.4W.9-10.5

Performance Task

Revise thesis statements by using a dependent clause with a contrast subordinating conjunction; provide peer feedback and use peer feedback to improve an argumentative essay.